How Can a School Teach About the Rights of People When They are Violators of Rights Themselves?

How will the Republic end? It's a question that many ask in many different walks of life. We are under threat now, but what problems could undermine it further?

I suggest that the public school system may unwittingly be conditioning our schoolchildren into sacrificing safety for security in the vain attempt to prevent any tragedy on any level anywhere. To me, that is a much, much larger tragedy than successfully finding out that Johnny smoked a joint last weekend. We are conditioning children to believe that their personal and private bodily fluids are subject to seizure without cause and without a court issued warrant as the Constitution demands. If they do not comply, they are barred from driving to school or participating in extracurricular activities. However, here is the bigger issue. If they get comfortable with this treatment, what will they tolerate as adults for the so-called public good? This is a Bill of Rights matter.

Here is the text of the 4th Amendment.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The Bill of Rights is all that protects all of us from arbitrary tyranny where all our lives could be at stake, regardless of whether or not we make good choices in life. Law based in principle is all that protects us from the caprice of evil men and women. Children experimenting in drugs is bad, but it will not cause the downfall of the Republic. I do care if our government thinks it should take from us, examine us, follow us, all in the name of security, but eventually leading to the reality of control.

Is Stereotyping Bullying, too?

Happened to catch a segment on Headline News last night about Hollywood stars speakign out against bullying. Now as we are all aware, according to the media, this all started being a major issue about six months ago. Also it, again according to the created cultural perception, almost always involves football players of linebacker size or larger shoving and belittling one of the few outrageously flamboyant boys in school.

At least that is what I caught from the clips of a few anti-bullying movies shown during the report. Something about a letterman's jacket just seems to make people want to shove around theater students in bow ties.

Horsecrap.

This is not isolated. Popular culture producers have often depicted the big, bad, violent, over testosteroned football player as the ideal image of a bully. Basketball, wrestling, and baseball are less targeted. But is this accurate?

Just speaking anecdotally, I've played, coached, or otherwise been around football players and other athletes all of my life. They are no more likely to bully a kid than anyone else. As a matter of fact, they have more of their time consumed and have a lot more to lose by engaging in such behavior. As a matter of fact, again, anecdotally speaking, football players will at times find themselves the target of bullying. This happens often to the kids that play the line, because usually they are a lot larger than the other kids, but are reluctant to get physical against smaller children for fear of being accused of bullying.

Is bullying a bad thing? Absolutely. But let us stop the harmful and inaccurate stereotyping of athletes as perpetual malefactors in these cases.

As far as bullying itself is concerned, in most situations things improve when the individual recognizes that he is the only one truly interested in his or her own security. My opinion, encourage kids to fight back on their own or in groups. Bullies are cowards. They will just move on.

Shelley Moore Capito Selected For GOP Transition Team

Nov 08 2010
Capito Selected To Serve On GOP Transition Team
Today, Congressman Greg Walden R-OR, Chairman of the House GOP Majority Transition Team, announced the 21 Members responsible for overseeing the smooth and transparent transition into Republican majority.
Capito, who was elected to her sixth term in Congress last week, accepted the appointment with enthusiasm. “I am honored to be a part of the majority transition team as we seek to implement the first stages of an agenda aimed at listening and engaging the American people,” she stated.
In an earlier release, Walden stated that, “our transition team includes proven leaders who will meet our challenge to restore the House of Representatives as a great deliberative body that respects the will of the American people.” Members of this team will work to implement the congressional reforms included in the Pledge to America and look at additional ways to make Congress more transparent, cost-efficient, and accountable to the people.
To continue to engage Americans directly by seeking their input on themes like how Congress can operate with greater transparency and accountability to the people, the transition team has launched a new website at GOPLeader.gov/NewMajority. Americans are able to submit comments, videos and share information via Twitter and Facebook.
“I encourage West Virginians to take advantage of this unique opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns on how we can make Washington work better. I think we will see that transparency and citizen engagement will be tenets of the Republican Majority,” concluded Capito.
Members of the GOP Majority Transition Team
Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-1)
Rep. John Campbell (CA-48)
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (WV-2)
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-3)
Rep. Tom Cole (OK-4)
Rep. Mike Conaway (TX-11)
Rep. David Dreier (CA-26)
Rep.-elect Cory Gardner (CO-4)
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-6)
Rep. Doc Hastings (WA-4)
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (TX-5)
Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-4)
Rep.-elect Adam Kinzinger (IL-11)
Rep. Buck McKeon (CA-25)
Rep. Candice Miller (MI-10)
Rep.-elect Martha Roby (AL-2)
Rep. Mike Rogers (MI-8)
Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-1)
Rep.-elect Tim Scott (SC-1)
Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-32)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (OH-12)

What's the Big Deal About India?

Obama's current vacation to India, a trip that involves almost twice as many planes as the entire (and nearby) Nepal Air Force, has been roundly criticized for its cost of $200 million per day. This figure, given by an Indian political figure, is in dispute by the White House, but they refuse to admit the price tag.

This may cause people to question why the trip to India is necessary.

Objectively speaking, it is. Of course you do not need thousands of people, the entire structure of the ritziest hotel in the region, forty planes, thirty-four naval vessels, and a partridge in a pear tree. Obama's huge entourage is very reminiscent of the old Mughal princes or the airs put on by British leaders of the Raj such as Admiral Lord Mountbatten. It is meant to show an imperial style more so than one of a republic. However, the trip is worthwhile, if approached correctly.

According to the CIA World Factbook, India occupies the most strategic point in southern Asia and the Indian Ocean. The country borders China's southwest and has skirmished with that country in the recent past. It has substantial mineral wealth, including the fourth largest coal reserves in the world. India also has a population of 1.1 billion. The country has nearly completed its transformation from an autarkic condition into a free market system. It has the 5th largest GDP in the world.

When looking at its economic might and the potential to someday become the strongest economy in the world, one has to take India into account as possibly the next great superpower. It also borders China, so if that country decides to get frisky, it can be a counterweight. Most importantly, India is a free market democracy in the old British tradition. It has the power to influence and guide events in its part of the world and deserves the opportunity to be encouraged to take a leading role. Getting India into the front rank of world affairs means that the United States can shift part of its leadership role to a country that shares our values and also has the capability of projective power and influence. A triad of the United States, United Kingdom, and India would be a powerful force for democracy and free markets in world affairs, if we can keep governments in all three focused on those priorities domestically as well.

So going to India is important. We must cement our relations with this country. It would not hurt for a group of Republicans to follow this up in a few months, obviously including Bobby Jindal. They can be a very important partner, or an insurmountable obstacle. We must deal with them carefully and respectfully.